A new appeal was made today for help in finding out why a Tyneside dad plunged into the Tyne.

Tony Dockerty fell in after an incident on the Swing Bridge early last Friday and there has been no sign of him since. Police are treating it as suspicious.

Mr Dockerty, 25, of Finchale Gardens, Throckley, Newcastle, was on his way home from a night out at the Tuxedo Princess.

Det Insp Martin Harvey said: "We have spoken to a number of people who were on the Swing Bridge but we are keen to speak to anyone else who was on the bridge at that time. We know there was a large number of people on the bridge as the Tuxedo Princess and Baja nightclubs had just closed and crowds were crossing the river to go to the taxi ranks."

Mr Dockerty had been walking on the east side of the Swing Bridge at around 2am when an incident occurred which resulted in him falling into the water. Three men were arrested and have been released on police bail. Mr Dockerty's family declined to speak about the situation. Anyone with information should contact detectives at Newcastle CID on (0191) 214 6555.

Meanwhile, another man had a lucky escape today when he was plucked to safety from the river.

The 20-year-old was spotted in the water by a police sergeant who radioed for help.

Four officers dashed to the riverside and fished the man out as he swam to the shore, on the Gateshead side of the Swing Bridge.

He was wet and cold but had not suffered any serious injury. He was taken to Newcastle General Hospital and allowed home after treatment. Police do not know how the man, from Bedlington, Northumberland, ended up in the water.